09/05/2024
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Meyers & Flowers and The Beasley Firm Secure Victory in Appeals Court Upholding $43.5 Million Verdict for Former NFL Player Chris Maragos
Philadelphia, PA (September 3, 2024) – Chicago, IL – Meyers & Flowers, in partnership with The Beasley Firm, achieved a significant victory in the Pennsylvania Superior Court this past Friday. The court upheld a previous jury verdict finding Rothman Orthopedics Institute negligent in its treatment of former Philadelphia Eagles captain Chris Maragos, resulting in the continuation of a $43.5 million verdict awarded last year.
The appeals court ruling reaffirms the decision made by a Philadelphia jury during a two-week medical malpractice trial in January 2023. The jury found that Rothman’s physicians, responsible for supervising and advancing Maragos’ rehabilitation, violated the standard of care, ultimately contributing to the premature end of his NFL career.
In its detailed opinion, Superior Court President Judge Anne E. Lazarus supported the original findings by the trial judge, Philadelphia Common Pleas Judge Charles J. Cunningham III. Judge Cunningham, who oversaw the star-studded 2023 trial, had previously ruled that the jury did not err in finding Rothman negligent.
“[Rothman] doctors who supervised and continued to encourage rehabilitation on Plaintiff’s knee over complaints of pain and discomfort violated standard of care,” Judge Lazarus wrote, echoing the expert opinions presented during the trial.
The Superior Court further agreed with the trial judge's decision to instruct the jury on spoliation of evidence due to discrepancies between a doctor’s transcribed patient notes and the Eagles Training Room Notes concerning Maragos. This evidence was pivotal in establishing Rothman’s liability.
Background on the Case
The civil case centered on a meniscus tear in Maragos’ knee that his medical team, including Rothman Orthopedics, failed to treat properly. The negligent decision to advance his rehabilitation despite evident injuries further damaged his knee. During the trial, Maragos’ legal team demonstrated that Rothman Orthopedics created two separate medical charts for Maragos, one of which omitted crucial information about his injury and recovery.
Maragos initially injured his right knee on October 12, 2017, during a game against the Carolina Panthers, where he was diagnosed with a torn posterior cruciate ligament (PCL). Dr. Bradley, along with Rothman Orthopedics, performed surgery and oversaw his post-operative care. However, by May 2018, an MRI revealed worsening damage and a persistent partial tear in the knee. Despite these findings, Rothman Orthopedics allowed Maragos to advance his rehab, including running on dry land—an action that caused further damage to his knee and effectively ended his professional football career.
Throughout the trial, testimony from Maragos’ former teammates, including Nick Foles, Trey Burton, and Jordan Hicks, as well as key orthopedic experts, strengthened the case against Rothman Orthopedics.
Chris Maragos was represented by Peter J. Flowers and Frank V. Cesarone of Meyers & Flowers, along with Dion G. Rassias and Jill Johnson of The Beasley Firm, a Philadelphia-based law firm. Maragos, a Super Bowl champion with the Seattle Seahawks, also played for the San Francisco 49ers and the Philadelphia Eagles, where he signed a three-year contract in 2014.
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About Meyers & Flowers
Led by Illinois Top 100 Super Lawyer and former President of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, Peter J. Flowers, the Meyers & Flowers’ team of experienced trial attorneys routinely take on large challenges and succeed. For more than two decades, the firm has represented clients both locally in Chicago and nationally in a full spectrum of cases involving catastrophic personal injuries, medical malpractice, workplace injuries and wrongful death.
About The Beasley Firm
Established in 1958, The Beasley Firm has represented countless injury victims and has won more than $2 billion in compensation – something that few other law firms can truly match. Their Philadelphia personal injury and trial lawyers are passionate about advocating for the catastrophically injured; those who have lost loved ones, family members, or those tragically hurt in a serious accident.
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